Business-college cabinet



(No Model) B. J. WALLACE. BUSINESS COLLEGE CABINET.

Patented June 29, 1897.

- rniu'r FFCE ROBERT J. IVALLAOE, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

BUSINESS-COLLEGE CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,299, dated June 29, 1897. Application filed April '7, 1897- Serial No. 631,189. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT J. WALLACE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Business-College Cabinets; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, .and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cabinets for use incolleges and other institutions where bookkeeping and business meth ods are taught; and it consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through my improved cabinet. Fig. 2 is a front View of a cabinet, partly in section, taken on the line y y, Fig. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section illustrating the locking mechanism. This view is taken on the line a; :0, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 illus trates a detail of construction.

Similar reference-characters indicating corresponding parts in the views, let the numeral 5 designate the sides, 6 the bottom, and 7 the top, of the cabinet. These walls are preferably composed of wood, the top and bottom being interiorly grooved to receive the partitions 8, composed of cardboard or other suitable material. These partitions occupy positions parallel with the side walls 5, and they separate the inclosed space into a series of compartments for the reception of envelops containing instructions in business transactions, the method of entering them in books, the manner of preparing these papers, together with samples and forms. These envelopsmay also contain money, blank forms of business-papers for the student to fill out, business-papers already prepared in the business the student is doing or which is being done by the person for whom the student is keeping books. The envelops also contain model papers and books to aid the student in his work.

In the front end of the cabinet and located on opposite sides of the partitions 8 are two vertical rollers 9, whose extremities are respectively journaled or pi voted in the top and bottom of the cabinet. As shown in the drawings, the rollers consist of hollow cylinders, preferably composed of tin, having closed ends which are apertured to receive loose spindles 10, which are passed therethrough and protrude sufficiently to form journals which engage sockets in the top and bottom Walls of the case or cabinet. The lower sockets do not extend entirely through the bottom 6. Hence the spindles cannot drop through or escape from the cabinet, case, or box. The upper socket-s pass entirely through the top of the box, which is recessed or slotted to receive a thin strip 25 of metal or other material which intersects the sockets and passes just above the spindle extremities. This strip prevents the spindles from dropping out when the cabinet is turned over. It is, however, removable, and when taken out the spindles may be removed and inserted atwill. When the axles or spindles are taken out, the rollers are released, allowing any adjustment or regulation of the parts which may be necessary or desirable.

The two rollers are connected by two tapes 12 and 13, composed of metal or any other suitable material. The extremities of each tape are made fast to the rollers. The tape 13 is attached to the roller extremities below the partitions 8. The tape 12 is passed under and the tape 13 over each roller, so that as the rollers are turned one tape is winding upon while the other is unwinding from each roller. The tape 12 is located about midway between the top and bottom of the cabinet and is connected with a vertical slotted slide 14, whose extremities are T-shaped and engagesuitable guide-grooves formed in the top and bottom of the case. It is divided where it is attached to the slide, since it must not cross the slot therein. This slot is :narrow and adapted to register successively with the compartments formed by the partitions 8 as the slide is adjusted or moved. Hence as the slide is moved from the left toward the right (referring to Fig. 2) each envelop may be removed in succession from its compartment by drawing it therefrom through the slot in the slide. The width of the slot, however, will only permit the removal of one envelop at a time. Hence when any envelop has been returned to its compartment and the slide moved to the next compartment the previously -used envelop cannot be again taken from its compartment until the slide is moved backward or in the opposite direction. The cabinet is provided with locking mechanism to prevent this return movement, as hereinafter described.

The slide 14 is provided intermediate its extremities with an enlargement 14, to permit the insertion of the thumb and finger for the purpose of removing the envelops as the slide is adjusted. The partitions are provided with recesses S to enable the student to easily grasp the envelops whose forward extremities project into the said recesses. The tape 12 prevents the removal of any envelop until the slide is so adjusted that its slot registers with the compartment containing the envelop.

One of the rollers is provided with a series of short vertical slots 10, adapted to be engaged by a spring dog or pawl 15, mounted on a suitable support. The dog normally engages the slots 10 of the roller and is so constructed that it will permit the roller to turn freely in one direction, but look it against movement in the opposite direction. Provision is made, however, for disengaging this dog from the roller and holding it in the disengaged position when it is desired to reverse the movement of the rollers. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner. As shown in the drawings, alever 16 is fulcrumed on the casing at 17. The lower extremity of this lever is connected with the spring-dog 15 by means of a link 18, while the upper extremity of the lever lies in the path of a bolt projecting from the casin g 19 of any suitable locking mechanism. This bolt is controlled by a suitable key 20 in the ordinary manner. The key is carried by the teacher or instructor. WVhen the student is at work, the parts are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3. Hence the slide can be moved only in one direction.

The dotted lines in Fig. 3 show the position of the parts when the roller is unlocked. This is accomplished by turning the key 20 in the casing 19 and throwing the bolt outward to engagement with the upper extremity of the lever 16. This engagement of the bolt actuates the lever sufficiently to disengage the dog 15 from the roller.

The slide 14 may be formed of a single piece of wire bent into the desired shape, or it may be of any other desired construction. The slots 10 engaged by the locking-pawl 15 should all be of the same width and the same distance apart. The arrangement is preferably such that every time the dog or pawl 15 passes from one notch to another the slide moves from one compartment to another of the case or cabinet. If desired, thepartitions 8 may be omitted and the envelops may be of sufficient width to engage the grooves in the top and bottom of the case.

In describing the use of the device I will assume that it is lockedthat is to say, that the spring dog or pawl 15 and its controllinglever are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, or so that the slide let may be moved in one direction only. I will further assume that the student is using the cabinet and that the direction of movement is from the left toward the right, referring to Fig. 2. As the slide is moved so that its slot registers with any compartment of the case he removes the envelop in that compartment, uses its contents, makes the necessary entriesinhis book, replaces the envelop and contents in its compartment, and moves the slide to the next compartment toward the right, and so on until every envelop has been removed and its contents used. It will be observed that by virtue of the engagement of the pawl 15 with the slots 1O" of the roller (see Fig. 4) the slide cannot be moved toward the left until the roller is released from engagement with the dog. This is done by the teacher or instructor at the proper time by inserting and turning the key 20 in the lock-casing 19 and projecting the bolt, thus throwing the parts to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The slide may then be moved backward toward the left at will.

Some of the advantages of my improved cabinet will now be described. The matter contained in the envelops can be reached, used and replaced by the student, but he cannot anticipate what he has before him, neither can he turn to instructions he has passed over to make up neglected work, thus making the process of his work very similar to that practiced in an office and yet permitting full instructions for each transaction with model entries, books, and business papers for similar but not like transactions. It makes it convenient to have matter of different kinds for each student who is working in any part of his course of study, so that there cannot be any copying in the schoolroom; it permits any desired variation in the work by changing the instructions and matter of one or more envelops in a cabinet; it permits (by having several cabinets) of having only a small portion of the students work before him at any one time, so that he is not discouraged by seeing what is ahead of him; it allows the student to start his business course as bookkeeper for a business man who transacts the business and instructs the student how to make the proper entries and business papers; it makes it practicable to have business papers and cash pass through the students hands the same as in a first-class business house; it permits the directing of the student in his actual business practice without his being able to anticipate or to gather up neglected work gone over; it permits the using of the same instructions many times over, thus lessening expenses; it allows the student to keep his papers in compact form and free from dust; it permits complete and full instructions with reference to each step of the work, thus relieving the teacher to a certain extent and making the student more self-reliant, and, finally, it permits each school using the cabinet to adopt such a system of instructions in bookkeeping and of business forms as it thinks best.

Between the sides 5 of the case and the outermost partition 8 are two compartments 22 not controlled by the tape 12. These are for the students private use. In the top and bottom of the case are formed two grooves 23 in front of the slotted slide. They are for the insertion of a sliding front end piece, (not shown,) which may be employed when the cabinet is not in use. This feature permits the closing of the cabinet perfectly tight, whereby all dust is excluded. The opposite end of the cabinet is tightly closed bya suitable wall 4.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A cabinet of the class described adapted to hold envelops or documents, a slotted device movably connected with the open end of the cabinet, and means connected with the slotted device for preventing the removal or insertion of papers except by way of the slot in said movable slide.

2. A case or cabinet of the class described adapted to contain business papers and being open at one end or side, a slotted device attached to the open end of the case and having an enlargement intermediate its extremities to permit the insertion of the thumb and finger in removing papers, and means connected with the slide for preventing the insertion or removal of papers except by way of the slot in the slide.

3. A cabinet of the class described adapted to hold envelops or other papers or documents, a slotted device movably connected with the open end of the cabinet, and means connected with the slotted device for preventing the removal or insertion of papers, except by way of the slot in the slide, and suitable means for locking the slotted slide against movement in one direction.

4. A cabinet or case adapted to contain business papers and open at one end or side, a slotted slide connected with the open end of the case, rollers pivoted in the case, and a ribbon, tape, or flexible band 12 connected with the slide and having its extremities attached to the rollers, said tape being adapted to prevent the insertion or removal of papers except by way of the slot in the slide.

5. A cabinet or case adapted to contain business papers and open at one side or end, a slotted slide connected with the open end of the case, rollers pivoted in the case, and a ribbon, tape, or flexible band 12 connected with the slide and having its extremities attached to the rollers, said tape being adapted to prevent the insertion or removal of papers except by way of the slot in the slide, and suitable means engaging one of the rollers for locking the slide against movement in one direction, and another tape connected with the rollers, but adapted to wind in a direction opposite from the tape 12, whereby as one tape is winding up on each roller, the other tape is unwinding from the same roller.

6. A cabinet or case adapted to contain business papers and open at one end or side, a slotted slide connected with the open end of the case, rollers pivoted in the case, and a ribbon, tape, or flexible band 12 connected with the slide and having its extremities attached to the rollers, said tape being adapted to prevent the insertion or removal of papers, except by way of the slot in the slide, suitable means engaging one of the rollers for locking the slide against movement in one direction, said means comprising a spring-pawl normally engaging a ratchet of the roller.

7 A cabinet or case adapted to contain business papers and open at one end or side, a slotted device connected with the open end of the case, rollers pivoted in the case, and a 5 tape having its extremities attached to the rollers, said tape being adapted to prevent the insertion or removal of papers except by way of the slot in the slide, suitable means engaging one of the rollers for locking the 100 slide against movement in one direction, said means comprising a spring-pawl normally engaging a ratchet in the roller, and suitable means for disengaging the pawl from the roller, comprising a lever connected with the 10 5 pawl, and a key-operated bolt for actuating the lever.

8. A cabinet or case divided by suitable partitions into a series of compartments, said cabinet being open at one end, a slotted slide no connected with the open end of the case, and means connected with the slide for preventing access to the compartments of the case except by way of the slot in the slide.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature I15 in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT J. WVALLACE.

Witnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDET, EDITH HIMSWORTH. 

